Zaab Zaab
Thai restaurant · Elmhurst ·
Fiery Isan Thai dishes featuring duck, offal, and fresh herbs
Fiery Isan Thai dishes featuring duck, offal, and fresh herbs
"Mamdani has been a fan of the Elmhurst Thai restaurant known for its Isan cuisine. Naturally, he stopped by for a meal in early January. He ordered the popular duck larb as well as sticky rice and skewers, per the restaurant’s Instagram." - Nadia Chaudhury
"During his first week in office he also returned to Elmhurst Thai restaurant Zaab Zaab, one of his favorites, ordering the popular duck larb along with sticky rice and skewers, as highlighted on the restaurant’s Instagram. The Isan-style spot dives deeper into northeastern Thai cooking with novel dishes and organ meats galore, and chef Aniwat Khotsopa’s menu features specialties like duck larb, tilapia roasted with salt, and tom hang, a steamed assortment of tripe, spleen, and intestine served with two dipping sauces." - Nadia Chaudhury
"The two-block stretch in Elmhurst that’s home to Khao Kang and Ayada is an intimidating place to open a Thai restaurant. But Zaab Zaab, an Isan Thai spot serving dishes packed with lots of chilies, herbs, and lemongrass, holds its own and then some. The menu is broken up into a bunch of different sections (grilled, fish, som tum, etc.), and you should treat it like an urgent checklist. Get the juicy larb with crispy duck skin and bits of chewy liver, and be sure to have a hot pot in the middle of your table. If you’re a party of six or more, you can call for a reservation, otherwise, stop by with one other person and grab a table on the little astroturf patio." - bryan kim, arden shore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore
"The original Elmhurst location for what’s becoming a mini-empire, Zaab Zaab offers compelling Thai cuisine from chef Kannika Moi Kittipinyovath for lunch and dinner. Don’t miss dishes like larb ped udon that boasts not only minced duck, but also tidbits of skin and liver, making the dish multi-textured and delightfully rich and spicy, spiked with a healthy dose of chiles. There’s also a papaya salad with pickled black crab, which adds crunch and a funky flavor." - Melissa McCart
"This is the original (and most fun) Zaab Zaab location, the Thai restaurant from Bryan Chunton that focuses on Isan dishes out in Elmhurst. Choose among items like duck larb, roasted tilapia, and gai yang vichean buri whole chicken, which is roasted and grilled and served with papaya salad. Good to know: In addition to other Zaab Zaab locations around the city, there’s the Zaab Burger stand — serving Thai smash burgers — on the Lower East Side." - Emma Orlow
